The E in EGOT

Like millions of others (though less than there used to be), I watched the Emmy Awards.  Here are some thoughts--on the awards, not the show itself.

The big question in comedy is Veep, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel or a surprise like Fleabag.  And in drama, will Game Of Thrones be the big winner?

Supporting actor in a comedy was a decent category, but has often been the best.  The winner is Tony Shalhoub for Maisel.  A fine actor, and his fourth Emmy.  A bit of a surprise--I would have guessed Henry Winkler, or maybe Tony Hale, but nothing to complain about.

Supporting actress in comedy--a very competitive category.  The winner is Alex Borstein.  (The TV bloc was introduced by Family Guy--they couldn't have planned the connection.) She's good, but no Betty Gilpin, Sarah Goldberg or Sian Clifford.  She gives a quick and tiresome speech.  Her victory does suggest Maisel will be doing better than Veep, though it's early.

Writing for comedy.  Some decent stuff, though the Barry episode was something special and a there's a rare nod to The Good Place..  The winner is Phoebe Waller-Bridge for Fleabag.  I don't know if I like this. (She's also nominated in the drama category, so she's got a big night ahead.)

Jane Lynch and Luke Kirby--already Emmy winners this year for the guest shots on Maisel--announce the award for direction in comedy.  Two nominations for Barry, two for Maisel, one for Big Bang and one for Fleabag.  Fleabag wins again.  Is it going to win the big one?  Big disappointment, since this should have gone to the amazing "ronny/lily" from Barry.  Not sure if I want to keep watching.

Lead actor in a comedy.  The choices: Bill Hader, Don Cheadle, Anthony Anderson, Michael Douglas, Eugene Levy and Ted Danson.  To no one's surprise, it's Bill Hader, repeating.  He probably deserves it, though I wouldn't have minded Ted Danson.

Lead actress in a comedy.  Brosnahan versus Waller-Bridge versus Louis-Dreyfus--some long names.  Brosnahan won last year, Louis-Dreyfus won the six years before that.  The winner is Waller-Bridge.  I like Fleabag, but don't know if I like this trend.

Now best reality show. If there's a time for a bathroom break, it's now.  RuPaul's Drag Race wins. No surprise.

A tribute to Game Of Thrones.  Okay, it was a big deal, but let's get to the awards.  The whole cast gives an award to supporting actress in limited series or movie.  Patricia Arquette wins for The Act (she's also nominated for Best Actress for another show in this category). Just as at the Oscars, she couldn't help but lecture us.

Now director for limited series. Johan Renck beats Ava DuVernay, so Chernobyl beats When They See Us.  Perhaps a bit of a surprise, though these were the two big names in the category.  We'll see how this plays out.

Supporting actor in limited series.  Some names here.  The winner is Ben Whishaw for A Very English Scandal.  Did the three When They See Us nominees cancel each other out?

Best writing for limited series.  Winner is Craig Mazin.  Looks like it's Chernobyl's night.  (And I guess Fosse/Verdon isn't going to get a lot of love.)

Beast actor for limited series. Plenty of big names.  Will Jared Harris win for Chernobyl?  Sam Rockwell for Fosse/Verdon?  Benicio Del Toro? Mahershala Ali?  Hugh Grant?  Nope, none of them.  It's Jharrel Jerome for When They See Us.

Best TV movie.  Will Black Mirror win yet again, this time for "Bandersnatch"?   Yes.  Fair enough.

A tribute to Veep. The whole cast gives the award for lead actress in limited series.  Once again, some big names (including Patricia Arquette again).  The winner is Michelle Williams for Fosse/Verdon.  That's nice (even if partner Sam Rockwell will have to live with just winning an Oscar).  She makes a speech about pay equality.

Award for limited series.  Chernobyl.  Not exactly a surprise, but it wasn't a lock. (Suppose I should watch it now, but I know how it turns out.)

Time for the variety awards.  First, writing.  The winner, Last Week Tonight With John Oliver.  No surprise.

Best variety sketch series.  SNL or something else?  SNL.  Most nominated show of all.  Lorne Michaels accepts.  I think he's won 15 of these.  Hard to believe he cares any more.

Direction in variety.  Winner is Don Roy King of SNL--the rich get richer.

Best variety show--once again, Last Week Tonight.  John Oliver keeps winning, like Jon Stewart used to.  Is it fair? He's got all week to prepare half an hour, where most of his competitors do it an hour a night.

They say goodbye to a bunch of shows that left this year that weren't as important as Game Of Thrones or Veep.  They spend the most time with Big Bang Theory, which was kind of a big deal.

Finally, time for drama.  Best supporting actor.  Wouldn't it be nice if Jonathan Banks or Giancarlo Esposito finally won for their Breaking Bad/Better Call Saul roles?  Then there are three Game Of Thrones nominees--will they split the vote?  Nope, for the fourth time, it's Peter Dinklage as Tyrion Lannister.  I don't know.  GOT was pretty weak this year.

Writing for drama.  GOT really doesn't deserve it, but what does?  Winner is Jesse Armstrong for Succession.  Meh.

Supporting actress in drama.  Four from GOT--I would think only Gwendolyn Christie can win of those, but it better be Julia Garner of Ozark, the best reason to watch that show.  Thank goodness, she wins--best choice of the night.  Hey, no southern accent.

Now is the time for In Memoriam.  Nothing wrong with this section, but the show would sure go faster if this were done on-line.

Lead actor in drama.  Some interesting choices.  The winner--Billy Porter of Pose.  The one show in the category I don't watch, so I have no feelings about it.  (Porter turned 50 yesterday, so this is a nice gift for him.)

Direction for drama--about half from Game Of Thrones, which is ridiculous. Winner is Jason Bateman for Ozark. A bit odd, though there wasn't anything that stood out in this category, so why not.  It's his first Emmy and it's for directing, not acting.  Odd.  Or is it?  A number of actors have won their only Oscar for direction, and maybe it's because more actors vote for these awards than any other category.

Lead actress for drama.  Two women nominated from Killing Eve--won't that cause trouble?  Winner is Jodie Comer from Killing Eve, so I guess it didn't--though maybe it will on the set from now on.  A lot of Brits winning this year, by the way. (Dinklage is an American, but did his accent fool them?)

Now the big finish.  First, best comedy series.  Is it Barry, Fleabag, The Good Place, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Veep, Russian Doll or Schitt's Creek?  To no one's surprise at this point, Fleabag.  A good show, but maybe the TV Academy is too impressed.

Best drama.  The nominees: This Is Us, Game Of Thrones, Better Call Saul, Killing Eve, Bodyguard, Succession, Ozark and Pose. Whew, that's a lot! If Killing Eve wins, Phoebe Bridge-Waller will be the only person aside from David E. Kelley to win best comedy and drama series the same year.  But it's Game Of Thrones, after all that.  Its final season was weak, but maybe it's for the phenomenon as a whole.

A not very exciting Emmy show, with so-so choices.  Time to start the countdown to Oscar.